Boat Building Academy graduates launch their new boats on hottest June day ever

Boat Building Academy graduates launch their new boats on hottest June day ever reports that students from the Boat Building Academy (BBA) launched three newly built boats at Lyme Regis on the hottest June day recorded to date. The event marked the completion of the BBA’s 40-week course, with boats ceremoniously walked from the academy into the harbour. Director and trustee Will Reed said the cohort’s work followed 40 weeks of training and highlighted the academy’s track record, citing a total of 293 boats and 676 boat builders launched over 29 years. The latest intake included 16 students enrolled in September 2025, completing three main projects. Reported builds ranged from an 18ft traditional clinker double ender named Bessie to a 16ft glued clinker cutter-rigged sailing dinghy and a 17ft strip-planked runabout. The launch also included a restored 1935 Hillyard 2.5-ton gaff sloop “Decibel,” due to appear at the next BBA launch on December 3.